Multi-purpose merchandise tray

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose merchandise tray has base dimensions equal to support surface of a standard transport pallet. A plurality of the tray may be disposed in a stacked manner on the pallet with merchandise prearranged therein. The merchandise tray with the pallet may be readily transported and deposited at a selected location such as an aisle of the shop floor of a retail location for ready purchase of the merchandise by customers walking through the aisle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to relatively large size merchandise trays havingdimensions applicable conveniently for storage, transport of a selectedlarge amount of merchandise as well as for displaying the merchandise atthe sale location to facilitate easy selection of items to purchase fromthe tray by purchasers. More particularly, it relates to merchandisecontainer trays made of cardboard or corrugated paperboard and havingcompatible dimensions suitable for being carried on common standard sizepallets to utilize the support surface of the pallet fully and tofacilitate transport of a selected large amount of merchandise as wellas for ready display of the merchandise at the point of sale withoutrequiring transfer of the merchandise to other display devices.

2. Background Art

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/661,266, filed Mar. 15, 2010, by the same applicant of thisapplication.

Containers such as corrugated boxes are commonly used for storing andtransporting merchandise from a manufacturing or distribution facilityto a sale or retail location. However, the containers are not suitablefor displaying the merchandise at the sale or retail location, since themerchandise is not readily accessible from the container by customersfor selecting the items to purchase. Accordingly, the merchandise, aftertransported to the sale or retail location, must be unpacked from thecontainers and be transferred to display shelves, stands, or show casesin order that customers may select the items to purchase. This procedureis time consuming and labor intensive to carry out.

Also, a plurality of generally rectangular merchandise containers arenormally placed on pallets for transportation. No provisions are made inthe construction of the container to ensure the stability of thecontainers disposed on the pallet. Therefore, with a large number ofcontainers stacked on top of one another on a pallet, often merchandisecontainers would fall off the stack during transport causing breakage,spoilage or spillage of the merchandise. Attempts have been made toincorporate interlocking means between stacked containers such asproviding rectangular upstanding tabs at the middle at the top of theirside panels and complementary openings formed at the middle of the sideedge of the bottom panel of the container so that the complementaryopenings of a container stacked above another container located below itwould engage with the tabs of the container below so as to hold thestacked containers together to reduce the relative movement between themfor increasing the stability of the stacked containers during transport.However, such upstanding tabs are flimsy in construction and couldeasily be bent or crushed during handling of the containers andtherefore rendering such provision ineffective. The drawback is furtherworsen by the fabrication of the containers with cardboard or corrugatedboard for reducing their weight and the cost and ease of theirmanufacture, because tabs made of cardboard or corrugated board arelacking the required rigidity and strength to withstand the inherentabuses they would be exposed to during the handling of the containersand they would readily be bent or mutilated.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate easy handling manually, merchandisecontainers are made in relatively small convenient sizes. Therefore fortransporting a large quantity of required merchandise, it is necessaryto place and to stack a large number of such relatively small convenientsize containers on the pallet for their transportation. Since the sizeof the containers are commonly not designed to conform with the size ofthe load supporting top surface of the pallet, they could not normallybe neatly arranged on the pallet; they may either not occupy the fullusable top surface of the pallet so that the transport capability of thepallet is not fully utilized, or portions of some containers may extendoutside of the top surface of the pallet in a hazardous manner thusmaking the load extremely unstable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide multipleuse container trays which are applicable for transporting merchandise aswell as be readily placed at a sale or retail location for displayingthe merchandise therein for purchase by customers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide multiple usecontainer trays having dimensions compatible with the supporting topsurface of standard pallets such that the complete supporting topsurface of the pallet can be efficiently utilized.

It is another object of the present invention to provide container trayshaving strong rigidity which can be readily fabricated with cardboard orcorrugated paper board material

It is another object of the present invention to provide container trayshaving strong interlocking means such that a plurality of them may bedisposed on a transport pallet with the trays coupled and/or stackedtogether securely and safely.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide containertrays having relatively large dimensions for carrying a large number ofmerchandise. The trays have reinforced supports therein for supportingthe weight of the stack as well as the large amount merchandise disposedtherein.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide containertrays having various means for retaining the merchandise thereinsecurely during transport as well as displaying for purchase at theretail location.

It is still another further object of the present invention to providecontainer trays which can be fabricated with a single piece of cardboardor corrugated paper board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects of the invention will become apparent in the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of the specification.

FIG. 1 is a front and side perspective elevation view of the containertray of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom and side perspective elevation view of the containertray.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective elevation view of the configuration formedon a single piece of cardboard or corrugated paper board for fabricatingthe container tray according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top and side perspective elevation view of the containertray with various portions therein folded and engaged together duringits fabrication.

FIG. 5 is a top and side perspective elevation view of the containertray with additional portions therein engaged together to form thereinforced supports during its fabrication.

FIG. 6 is a front and top perspective elevation view showing thecontainer tray of the present invention provided with transversedividers for dividing the interior space of the tray into various areasfor holding merchandise of various varieties as well as providedadditional supports when at least two container trays are stacked one ontop of the other and placed on a standard pallet.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective elevation view showing a plurality ofcontainer trays securely stacked together and placed on a standardpallet.

FIG. 8 is a front and top perspective elevation view showing analternative elongated longitudinal divider mounted in the container trayfor dividing the interior space into two longitudinal areas for holdingvarious merchandise as well as providing additional support when atleast two container trays are stacked together.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective elevation view showing a plurality ofcontainer trays with each tray provided with the longitudinal dividerand stacked together and the stack is placed on top of a pallet havingstandard dimensions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings in which like reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts in the different views, the container tray10 of the present invention includes a rectangular tray 11. The tray 11may be conveniently fabricated with a configuration 12 as best shown inFIG. 1 formed by stamping of a single piece of cardboard or corrugatedpaper board. The tray 11 has a rectangular bottom panel 13 preferablyhaving dimensions of 24 inches by 48 inches. The bottom panel 13 has twoopposite longer side edges 14 and 15, and two opposite shorter sideedges 16 and 17. Six evenly spaced slot openings 18 are formed adjacentto and along the longer side edge 14 and similar six evenly spaced slotopenings 19 are formed adjacent to and along the other longer side edge15. Three evenly spaced lengthwise slot openings 20, 21 and 22 parallelto the longer side edges are formed along the longitudinal center of thebottom panel 13. Two transverse slot openings 23 and 24 parallel to andspaced from the shorter side edges as well as spaced and parallel fromone another are also formed in the bottom panel 13. A rectangular firstend panel 25 having the same width as the shorter side edge 16 of thebottom panel 13, extends outward from the short side edge 16 of thebottom panel 13 and it is also foldable upward relative to the bottompanel 13 along the side edge 16. Two mutually parallel end panel slots26 and 27 are formed in the first end panel 25. The end panel slots 26and 27 are parallel and spaced from the adjacent side edges 28 and 29respectively of the first end panel 25. A narrow width rectangularsupport panel 30 extends outwards from the outer edge 31 of the firstend penal 25, and it is also foldable relative to the first end panel 25along this outer edge 31. A rectangular interior panel 32 equal in shapeand dimensions to the first side panel 25 extends outwards from anintermediate outer edge 33 of the interior panel 32 and it is alsofoldable along the outer edge 33 relative to the support panel 30. Acenter slot opening 34A perpendicular to the edge 31 and 33 and locatedat the middle of and adjacent to the outer edge 31 is formed in both thesupport panel 30 and the edge portion of the interior panel 32. Twoadditional mutually parallel slot openings 35A and 36A which are equallyspaced from the center slot opening 34A are formed in both the supportpanel 30 and the edge portion of the interior panel 32 as best shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. A first slot opening 37 is located adjacent to andparallel to one side edge 38 of the interior panel 32 and a second slotopening 39 is also located adjacent to the parallel to the other sideedge 40 of the interior panel 32. A rectangular first edge panel 41equal in width to the support panel 30 extends sideway from the sideedge 38 of the interior panel 32. A rectangular second edge panel 42equal in dimensions to the first edge panel 41 extends sideway from theside edge 40. A first foldable rectangular panel 43 extends outwardsfrom the outer edge 44 of the first edge panel 41, and a second foldablerectangular panel 45 extends outwards from the outer edge 46 of thesecond edge panel 42. A short open slot 47 is formed at the middle ofthe outer edge of the first foldable rectangular panel 43 and a similarshort open slot 48 is formed at the middle of the outer edge of thesecond foldable rectangular panel 45. Two rectangular openings 49 and 50are optionally formed at the two outer corners of the interior panel 32,and an optional foldable rectangular flap 51 extends outwards from theouter edge 52 of the interior panel 32. The distance between the innerend of the open slot 47 to the outer edge 44 of the first edge panel 41is equal to half of the length of the interior panel 32, and similarlythe distance between the inner end of the open slot 48 to the outer edge46 of the edge panel 42 is also equal to half of the length of theinterior panel 32.

A first U-shaped side panel 53 extends outwards from the side edge 14 ofthe bottom panel 13. The first U-shaped side panel 53 has an elongatedrectangular middle panel and two vertical side panels 54 and 55extending in a perpendicular manner from the two end portions of themiddle panel. The width of the middle panel is much shorter than thelength of the side edge 28 of the first end panel 25, and the length ofthe vertical side panels 54 and 55 is longer in length than the lengthof the side edge 28 of the first end panel 25. A first reinforced endpanel 56 extends sideways from the outer edge 57 of the vertical sidepanel 53. The length of the both the vertical side panel 54 and thefirst reinforced end panel 56 are longer than the side edge 28 of thefirst end panel 25. A first foldable tab 58 extends outwards from thelower middle portion of the outer edge 59 of the first reinforced endpanel 56. The first foldable tab 58 has a retaining tab 60 formed at itsouter edge and a retaining slot 61 is formed on the edge portion of theedge 57 of the vertical side panel 54 and located directly opposite tothe retaining tab 60. The width of the first foldable tab 58 is equal tothe length of the slot 26 in the first end panel 25, and the length ofthe first foldable tab 58 is equal to the distance between the slot 26to the side edge 28 of the first end panel 25. A second foldable tab 62extends inwards from the inner edge 63 of the vertical side panel 54,and the distance between its upper edge 64 and the edge 14 of the basepanel 13 is equal to the length of the side edge 28 of the first endpanel 25. A retaining tab 65 is formed at the middle of the inner edge66 of the second foldable tab 62.

Three foldable reinforce side panels 67, 68, and 69 extends upwards fromthe upper edge 70 of the elongated middle panel of the U-shaped sidepanel 53, and retaining tabs are formed at the outer edge of thesereinforce side panels 67, 68 and 69. These foldable side panels 67, 68and 69 are foldable inwards and downward towards the base panel 13 withtheir retaining tabs engaging with the slot openings 18 to secure inplace in a folded position lying against the inner surface of theelongated middle panel of the side panel 53. A first vertical slot 71 isformed between the foldable side panels 67 and 68, and a second verticalslot 72 is formed between the foldable side panels 68 and 69.

Similarly, a second U-shaped side panel 73 equal in shape and dimensionsto the first U-shaped side panel 53, extends outwards from the side edge15 of the base panel 13. The U-shaped side panel 73 has two verticalside panels 74 and 75 extending upward from two end portions of theelongated middle panel. A second reinforced end panel 76 extendssideways from the outer edge 77 of the vertical side panel 74. Thelength of the vertical side panel 74 and the second reinforced end panel76 is longer than the length of the side edge 29 of the first end panel25. A second foldable tab 78 extends outward from the middle upperportion of the outer edge 79 of the second reinforced end panel 76. Thesecond foldable tab 78 has a retaining tab 80 formed at its free edgeand a mounting slot 81 is formed at the outer edge 77 of the verticalside panel 74 and located directly opposite to the retaining tab 80. Athird foldable tab 82 extends sideway from the inner edge 83 of thevertical side panel 74, and a retaining tab 84 extends inward from theinner edge of the third foldable tab 82. The distance between the loweredge 85 and the edge 15 is equal to the length of the edge 29 of thefirst end panel 25. Three foldable reinforce side panels 86, 87 and 88are formed along the outer edge 89 of the elongated middle panel of theside panel 73. The foldable reinforce side panels 86, 87 and 88 arefoldable along the outer edge 89 inwardly and downwardly to liejuxtaposed to the inside surface of the elongated middle panel of theside panel 73 with the tabs formed at their outer free edge engagingwith the slots 19 formed along the edge 15. A first vertical slot 90 isformed between the foldable reinforce side panels 86 and 87, and asecond vertical slot 91 is formed between the foldable reinforce sidepanels 87 and 88. The vertical slot 90 is located directly opposite tothe first vertical slot 71 formed between the foldable reinforce sidepanels 67 and 68, and the second vertical slot 91 is located directlyopposite to the slot 72 formed between the foldable reinforce sidepanels 68 and 69.

The rectangular second end panel 92 and all associated parts attachedthereto are identical in construction to the rectangular first end panel25 and the associated parts 26 to 81 described above.

The tray 11 may be fabricated by first folding the U-shaped side panels53 and 73 upwards along the foldable edges 14 and 15 respectively untilthey are perpendicular to the bottom panel 13. The foldable reinforceside panels 68 and 87 may then be folded inwardly and downwardly to liejuxtaposed to the inner surface of the elongated middle panel of theside panels 53 and 73 with the mounting tab at their free edges engagingwith the associated slot openings 18 and 19 respectively formed alongthe edges 14 and 15 of the bottom panel 13 so as to maintain the sidepanels 53 and 73 securely mounted in the vertical position perpendicularto the bottom panel 13 to form rugged side panels for the tray 10. Asbest shown in FIG. 4, the first end panel 25 is then folded upwardsalong the side edge 16 until it is perpendicular to the bottom panel 13.The first reinforced panel 56 and the second reinforced panel 76 arefolded along the edges 57 and 77 respectively while the first foldabletab 58 and the second foldable tab 78 are folded along edges 59 and 79respectively to insert through the slot openings 26 and 27 respectivelylocated in the end panel 25 into the interior of the tray. After havingbeen inserted through the slot openings 26 and 27, the foldable tabs 58and 79 are bent and folded towards the side panels 53 and 73 until theirretaining tabs 60 and 80 engage with the retaining slots 61 and 81respectively located at the edges 57 and 77 respectively, thusmaintaining the side panels 25 mounted in the erected vertical positionas best shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5.

The first edge panel 41 and the second edge panel 42 are folded upwardsalong fold lines 38 and 40 respectively until they are perpendicular tothe interior panel 32. The first foldable rectangular panel 43 and thesecond foldable rectangular panel 45 are the folded along fold lines 44and 46 respectively toward one another and are mounted to one another byslidably engaging the open slot 47 and 48 with one another so that theyform a combined panel equal in shape and dimension to the interior panel32 and spaced therefrom of a distance equal to the width of the edgepanels 41 and 42. The interior panel 32 is then folded along the line 33until the interior panel 32, the combined panel, the edge panels 41 and42 and the support panel 30 together form a rectangular case 93 as bestshown in FIG. 5. The rectangular foldable flap 51, if provided, isfolded rearward until it extends perpendicular to the interior panel 32to cover the bottom of the rectangular case 93. The rectangular case 93is then folded along line 31 inwardly and downwardly until the combinedpanel lies in a vertical position juxtaposed to the first end panel 25with the optionally provided rectangular foldable flap 51, if provided,abutting the bottom panel 13. The rectangular case 93 is secured inplace with the foldable tabs 62 and 82 from the side panels 53 and 73bent and folded against the interior panel 32 and the retaining tabs 65and 84 are bent to engaged with the slot openings 37 and 39 respectivelyformed in the interior panel 32. Since the vertical panel 54 andreinforced panel 56 as well as the vertical panel 74 and the reinforcedpanel 76 have a length longer than the side edge 28 of the end panel,the upper end portions of the vertical panel 54 and reinforced panel 56in combination form a rugged first right angle mounting bracket 94 atone upper corner of the tray 11 while the upper end portions of thevertical panel 74 and the reinforced panel 76 in combination form arugged second right angle mounting bracket 95 at the other upper cornerof the tray 11. The foldable side panels 69 and 88 are then foldedinwardly and downwardly to lie juxtaposed to the elongated middle panelof the side panels 53 and 73 respectively with their mounting tabsengaging with the slots 18 and 19 respectively formed along the sideedges 14 and 15 of the bottom panel 13 respectively. The folded foldableside panels 69 and 88 not only reinforce the strength of the side panels53 and 73, their end portions also press the rectangular case 93 firmlyin place against the end panel 25 as best shown in FIG. 2.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, a second rectangular case 96 is formed byfolding the various panels associated with the second end panel 92 asdescribed above for the formation of the rectangular case 93 with acenter slot opening 34B formed in the middle of its upper top edge.Also, a rugged third right angle mounting bracket 97 and a fourth rightangle mounting bracket 98 are formed at the two upper corners of thetray 11 in the same manner as best shown in FIG. 2 as the formation ofthe first and second right angle mounting brackets 94 and 95 describedabove.

Since the bottom panel 13 of the container tray 10 of the presentinvention has dimensions of 24 inches by 48 inches, it is compatiblewith the dimension of a standard 24 by 48 pallet such that it may besecurely placed on the standard 24 by 48 pallet to utilize the usablesupport surface of the pallet fully as shown in FIG. 6. Two containersmay be placed securely back to back on a standard 48 by 48 pallet.

As best shown in FIG. 6, two transverse dividers 99 and 100 may bemounted in the tray 11 for separating its interior space into threeseparated areas for holding various different varieties of merchandiseas well as providing additional support of the middle portion of thetray. Each transverse divider has a generally I-shape in side view andconsisting of a vertical rectangular board 101 having a width equal tothe width of the bottom panel 13 of the tray 11, and a thickness equalto each one of the slots 71, 72, 90 and 91. The height of the transversedivider is equal to the height of the each of rectangular cases 93 and96. Two rectangular bottom rims 102 and 103 are formed at its twoopposite bottom edges and extending outward perpendicular to its frontand rear rectangular surfaces respectively. Two rectangular horizontalplates 104 and 105 are formed at its upper edges and extending alsoperpendicular to its front and rear rectangular surfaces. An upstandingtab 106 is formed at the middle of its upper surface. Four rectangularretaining tabs may optionally be provided at its four lower corners andare extending perpendicular to the front and rear surfaces. Thetransverse divider may be mounted in the tray 11 by slidably engagingits side edges with the opposite vertical slot openings 71 and 90, or 72and 91 on the side of the tray 11 with the bottom rims 102 and 103resting on the base panel 13, the side edges of the bottom rims 102 and103 also would snappingly engage in the space between the lower edge ofthe foldable reinforce side panels 67, 68, 69 and the bottom panel 13for securing and maintaining the transverse divider in the securevertical mounted manner in the tray 11.

A plurality of container trays 10 with the transverse dividers mountedtherein may be stacked together as shown in FIG. 7 with the lower cornerportions of the upper container tray slidably engaging within the rightangle mounting brackets of the lower container tray until the endportion of the upper tray is resting securely on the upper edge of therectangular cases 93 and 96 of the bottom tray. Thus, the rectangularcases 93 and 96 provide firm supports for the two end portions of theupper container tray. The upstanding tab 106 of the transverse dividers99 and 100 in the lower tray engage with the transverse slots 23 and 24at the base panel 13 of the upper tray to align firmly two trays stackedtogether. The horizontal plates 104 and 105 of the transverse dividersin the lower tray also abut against the bottom of the bottom panel 13 ofthe upper container tray to provide additional support for the uppercontainer. Thus, the two containers may be securely and removablystacked together. The right angle mounting brackets facilitate the easeof stacking of the container trays by engaging with the lower corners ofthe upper tray with the corresponding mounting bracket of the lowertray. A plurality of container 10 may be securely and easily stackedtogether in this manner and disposed on a pallet. A rectangular topcover 107 may be provided for covering over the top of the top containertray 10 as best shown FIG. 7.

Alternatively, an elongated longitudinal rectangular divider board orcase 108 may be mounted in the tray 11 as shown in FIG. 8 to divide itsinterior space into two separate longitudinal areas for holdingdifferent varieties of merchandise. The longitudinal rectangular dividerboard or case 108 has a height equal to the height of the rectangularcases 93 and 96 and a length equal to the distance between therectangular cases 93 and 96. In the case of a divider case, the width ofthe case is wider than the width of the lengthwise slot openings 20, 21and 22 formed in the base panel 13 of the tray. Two downwardly extendingmounting hooks 109 and 111 are provided at its upper side corners. Tworectangular bottom flanges 112 and 113 extends sideways from the bottomedge of its two opposite rectangular surfaces. The rectangular bottomflanges 112 and 113 preferably have dimensions equal to half of the basepanel 13 of the tray 11. The longitudinal rectangular divider board orcase 108 may be mounted in the tray 11 by engaging the mounting hooks109 and 111 with the center slot openings 34A and 34B formed at themiddle of the top surface of the rectangular cases 93 and 96, with therectangular bottom flanges 112 and 113 resting on the base panel 13 ofthe tray. The top edge of the longitudinal rectangular divider 108 isaligned with the top edge of the rectangular cases 93 and 96. Threespaced top mounting slots 114, 115, and 116 are formed in the top edgeof the divider 108 when it is in the form of a rectangular case. The topmounting slots 114, 115 and 116 are aligned with the lengthwise slotopenings 20, 21 and 22 when two trays are stacked together one on top ofthe other.

As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of transverse slidable dividers 118having a height equal to the height of the longitudinal rectangulardivider 108 and a lower edge equal to the distance between thelongitudinal rectangular divider 108 and the side panels 53 and 73. Thetransverse slidable divider 118 consists of a trapezoidal or rectangularshape board 119 mounted at its inner vertical edge to a rectangularslider board 120. The trapezoidal board 119 and the slider board 120have a height equal to the height of the longitudinal rectangulardivider 108. A selected number of slidable transverse dividers 118 maybe slidably mounted in each longitudinally divided half areas of thetray 11 by slidably abutting the inner surface of the slider board 120against longitudinal rectangular divider 108 and the outer edge of thetrapezoidal board 119 slidable abutting the inner surface of the sidepanels of the tray 11. Two slidable dividers 118 may be mounted fixedlyin the tray with the outer edge of the trapezoidal board 119 engagingwith the slots 70, 72 and 90, 91 to divide each longitudinal dividedhalf to three sub-divided areas in the tray.

A selected number of the merchandise tray 10 with the longitudinaldivider and slidable transverse dividers mounted therein may be stackedtogether and placed on a standard supporting pallet as shown in FIG. 9.The upper edge of the longitudinal divider 108 and the support cases 93and 96 provide completely secure support of the weight of the uppertray. The bottom corner portions of the upper container tray alsoslidably and securely engaged with the right angle mounting brackets ofthe lower container tray as in the above embodiment to maintain thetrays securely mounted together.

In use, a selected number of the container trays may be stacked andplaced on a standard transport pallet having a load supporting surfacesame as the bottom dimensions of the tray, at the merchandisemanufacturing facility or at a distribution facility with the requiredmerchandise placed into the trays. The stack of trays together with thepallet may then be covered with an outer protective wrap and betransferred to the transport vehicle by a forklift engaging the palletin the common manner for delivery to the retail location. At the retaillocation the tray stack is unloaded from the transporting vehicle againwith a forklift engaging the pallet in the common manner and placed at adesired floor area in the retail location. The desired area commonly isan aisle in the shop floor of the retail location. The outer wrap isthen removed such that the merchandise is readily visible and availablefor purchase by customers walking through the aisle. The low height ofthe side panels of the tray 11 renders the merchandise clearly visibleand easy access of the merchandise by the customers. When two stacks ofthe trays are located back to back on a 48 by 48 pallet, the merchandiseare available to customers walking through both sides of the aisle.Therefore, the container tray of the present invention, greatly reducesthe labor cost and time commonly required for having to pack themerchandise in transporting containers, stacking the containers in aninefficient manner on pallets, and then unloading the containers in theretail location, and unpacking the merchandise from the containers andrearranging them in or on other display devices.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedabove. It will be recognized and understood that various modificationsmay be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover allsuch modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A multi-purpose merchandise tray comprising, a large rectangular basepanel having dimensions proportionally equal to a 24 inches by 48 inchestop supporting surface of a standard load supporting pallet, twoU-shaped side panels extending perpendicular to two long side edges ofsaid base panel, said U-shaped side panels having an elongated portionand two extension panels extending perpendicular to two ends of saidelongated portion, a plurality of foldable reinforce panels formed on anupper edge of said elongated portion of each one of said side panels,said foldable reinforced panels being foldable downward to a foldedposition lying juxtaposed to each corresponding one of said each oneelongated portion of said side panels, said foldable reinforce panelshaving mounting tabs formed at a free edge therein, a plurality ofmounting slots formed along and adjacent to said side edges, saidmounting slots being engageable with said foldable reinforce panels formaintaining said foldable reinforce panels in said folded position,vertical slot openings formed between neighboring foldable reinforcepanels and located at directly opposite associated positions in saidelongated portion of each one of said side panels, transverse slotopenings formed in said base panel, said transverse openings beinglocated at positions aligned with two directly opposite vertical slotopenings formed between said foldable reinforce panels, two rectangularsupport cases located adjacent an inner surface of two opposite endpanels of said tray, said support cases having a height lower than saidend panels of said tray, an open transverse slot formed at a mid pointof an upper surface of each of said support cases, and said opentransverse slot being aligned with the longitudinal center of said basepanel, and being located directly opposite to one another, four rightangle mounting brackets located at four upper corners of said tray, saidright angle mounting bracket extending upwards from an upper edge ofsaid extension panels of said U-shaped side panels, a plurality oflongitudinal mounting slots formed in said base panel, said longitudinalmounting slots being located along the longitudinal center of said basepanel, an elongated longitudinal divider mountable in said tray fordividing interior area of said tray into two divided half longitudinalareas, said longitudinal divider and said end panels of said tray beingof a same height, said longitudinal divider having a rectangular mainbody with two mounting hooks extending downwardly from two upper cornersof said rectangular main body, said mounting hooks being engageable withsaid open transverse slots formed at the middle of said support cases.2. A multi-purpose merchandise tray according to claim 1 including tworectangular flanges extending perpendicular a bottom edge of twoopposite surfaces of said rectangular main body.
 3. A multi-purposemerchandise tray according to claim 2 wherein each of said tworectangular flanges have dimensions equal to each divided half of saidinterior area of said tray.
 4. A multi-purpose merchandise trayaccording to claim 3 including a plurality of transverse sub-dividersmountable slidably in each divided half of said interior area of saidtray, said sub-dividers including a trapezoidal board having a verticalinner edge mounted in a vertical manner to a rectangular slider board,said trapezoidal board having a lower edge with a length equal to thewidth of said divided half of said interior area of said tray, and aheight equal to the height of said longitudinal divider, said sliderboard also having a height equal to the height of said longitudinaldivider.